Fans of "Downton Abbey" were in utter shock to learn that one of their program's favorite characters, Lady Sybil Branson, passed away from eclampsia just after she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

The youngest daughter of the Grantham's, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, died following a series of seizures when her family disregarded one of the doctor's warnings to take her to a hospital for an emergency C-section because of her potentially being toxemic.

While fans of the U.K. have been well aware of the loss of the late Lady Sybil since the episode aired overseas in October, U.S. viewers were surprised by the move nonetheless. Many of the disappointed viewers took to social networking to voice their opinions.

"That Lady Sybil thing really shook me up. Damn," said Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post.

"America now joins the UK to comfort each other in grief, mourning the loss of Lady Sybil," stated Canadian chef Pamela Foster.

"Just completely ruined my weekend, 'I am dying. *sobs forever*, and Oh dear Lord WHY?? Why did you take Lady Sybil she was my fave," tweeted an unknown fan.

Prior to Lady Sybil's childbirth, her family was stuck between the conflicting opinions of Dr. Clarkson and specialist Sir Philip Tapsell.

Dr. Clarkson noticed the late Sybil's symptoms of stress, which included her "muddled" mental state and the swelling of her ankles. He urged the family to take Lady Sybil to the hospital, while Sir Philip begged to differ.

By the time Lady Sybil's husband, Tom Branson, agrees to Dr. Clarkson's advice, his wife is already in the middle of giving birth to their newborn daughter. However, the relief is short-lived as she goes into convulsions and it's too late to save her.

Left in complete devastation, Tom instantly becomes a single father to the baby, who he names after her late mother, Sybil.

"Downton Abbey" executive producer Gareth Neame told Vulture that the saddening episode left the U.K. as "a nation gobsmacked."

Tags
Downtown Abbey, Television